November

My camera met a sad fate when we were camping in Arches...I dropped it in that fine, red sand and it wouldn't work anymore.  I took it to a camera repair shop but it took them nearly two months to fix so pictures are poor quality because I tried to make do with my tablet, my phone, and Justin's phone.

Justin went caving in an old abandoned mine with a friend.  He came home pretty excited about all the things he saw.

 

He also earned his Wood Badge beads/award at a scout ceremony.  We all got to go and be his escorts.  (Wood Badge is a scouting program for adults...he went to the camp a couple of years ago and has been working on his goals ever since.)

He's standing by the guy in the red coat

This is what Brynn hanging out with dad looks like.

 

One morning while I was busy getting breakfast ready and packing a lunch Brynn decided it would be a good idea to use the kitchen drawers to climb up on the stove.  She really wanted a cup that was out of her reach.  Before I could get to her and get her down, she took a pretty nasty tumble and landed right on her head.  I watched her carefully over the next 30 minutes and when she started to fall asleep and then vomit, I knew she had a concussion and I needed to take her to the ER.  While there, they did a Cat Scan to determine that everything inside looked fine and there was no damage.  I couldn't go back with her for the scan but Justin did and said she was a trooper and was very calm through the whole thing.  She was pretty out of it for a while.

Glad everything was okay...not happy about the bill we got afterward.

After serving as the Relief Society President for just over two years, I was released the first week of November.  I had mixed feelings leading up to my release.  It was time intensive and even more mentally exhausting...I had put a lot of time and energy and effort and thought into my calling and I didn't understand how I could just put it aside.  But once I was released, I was okay with it and it has been easy to pass the reigns on to some very wonderful, capable women.  Although not a calling I would have ever asked for, nor would I ever seek for again, the lessons I learned about myself and about service (and so many other things) are lessons I am so grateful to have learned.  My counselors and secretary and I treated ourselves to a Swig cookie as our last "meeting."  Love these ladies.

Secretary Taunya Huff, me, 1st counselor Diana Dye, 2nd counselor Joni Newman

I was released one week and Justin was called as the Young Men's President the very next week so there has been no rest for our family.  He is super busy with that and I am happy to support him from home after he did it for me.  I am now serving as the compassionate service leader.

Molly's class performed at a Veteran's Day assembly so we got to go watch her do that.  They signed the words to "The Star Spangled Banner."  Since it's a banking holiday, even Justin got to go.

Stockton and Brynn wanted scriptures that they could "color" in so I found some of the blue paperback ones and wrote their names in the front.  Now when I read my scriptures in the morning, they like to read theirs.  Stockton colors in all the words that he recognizes and Brynn just colors.

The first snow of the season is definitely exciting.  Stockton and Brynn were able to go out and play for a little while.  Brynn mostly just like eating the snow.

 

Here's a little Thanksgiving wish from Molly.

Brynn "helping" Stockton with his homework.  She likes to mimic what I do as I follow along and listen to him read.

Giant straw!

I help regularly in the kid's classrooms and love it.  It's one more thing to do and arrange but I really do enjoy watching them in their school environment-seeing the dynamics of their class and putting faces to some of the names they talk about at home.  I was lucky and was scheduled to help in Stockton's class the day they were practicing a Thanksgiving song and skit.  Stockton was an Indian man.  So cute!

Clay Reed and Stockton

 

Gene and April invited us to a play/program that the youth in their stake were putting on.  Justin and some of his siblings had done the same thing when they were teenagers and remembered a lot of the music.  The message was great...I think Molly appreciated it the most out of all the kids.

Gene, Brynn, April, Riley, Cameron, Stockton, Molly

Thanksgiving at the cabin this year-

Justin was pretty excited that the golf course wasn't covered in snow.  He was able to golf a little bit and he and the kids went out and gathered some stray golf balls...about 60, I think!

 

Making Christmas crafts after a delicious dinner.  Molly made a Merry Christmas sign, Stockton a popsicle stick Santa, and Brynn made a wreath.

Grandma helping out the girls-Chloe, Molly, and Abby

Brynn, Tessa, and Grace

 

The girls can always count on Aunt Ali to paint fingernails...maybe it's because she has 3 boys!

Ali, Brynn, Harper

Going out and cutting down our tree is a favorite activity of all the kids.  Ali took some great pictures.

Grant and Stockton

Molly, Brynn, and Gavin

Molly, Gavin, and Grant

 

It's not Thanksgiving without making our thankful tree at home.  I put the kids in charge of constructing the tree this year.

Here is what the kids were thankful for this year:

Molly: Christmas * temple * missionaries * primary teachers * love * water * temples so families can be sealed * Daddy's work * forgiveness * Pilgrims and Indians * prayers, a way to talk to Jesus

Stockton: animals * grandparents * trees * the world * church * Brynn * snow * family * the Spirit * Jesus

Brynn: plans * chores * stuffed doggy * the piano * my dress * the temple * to be potty trained * food * family

Stockton had the honors of helping dad hang up Christmas lights this year.  That means that he gets to go stand on the roof, as close to the window as he can be.  He thought he was pretty darn cool.  Justin does a great job at decking our house out with lights and I love that he gets just as excited as I do about decorating for Christmas.  I don't think it would happen if he wasn't there helping me out with it!